LTTE Chief's death came two days before the 18th anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi's assasination. Ironical isn't it?
His peaceful existence ended with his first ever assasination, that of Jaffna Mayor in the 70's. Thus began the transformation to the most ruthless guerilla leader the world has ever known.
Prabhakaran's death has triggered a renewed interest in India of a political solution to the tamil cause. The shape and form of a solution largely depends on Rajapakse's ability to convince the Sinhala-Buddhist clique. Its an arduous task, given the history of chauvinism since S Bandaranaike days in the 50's.
Basic understanding of Srilankan history is required to put things in perspective. The justification to the tamil struggle stems from various state sponsored pogrons from 1956 to the events of July 1983 commonly referred to as Black July. Students in Tamil Nadu at that time will never forget those days.
I hated LTTE since the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, so did 99.99% of the population in Tamilnadu. Overnight LTTE and the tamil cause lost their greatest supporter. LTTE then did not care, for they were paid heavily for the job, which reflected in their successes against the Srilankan army in the mid 90's.
Sure, there are rabid elements in Tamil nadu today. Some of them coincidently lost in the recenlty concluded elections. Majority of the population is not celebrating LTTE's demise in Tamil nadu now. There's cautious optimism on one hand and concern on the other hand.
There exists an umblical chord between Srilankan Tamils and their brethren in India. Any attempts to deny this is an exercise in stupidity. It may go against the very concept of modern "nation-state". But then "nation-state", just like "secularism", is a western concept, imposed and ingrained because of our colonial trappings. Unfortunately, except for AP Venkateswaran, brilliant Foreign Secretary under Rajiv Gandhi, none of the other foreign policy mandarins understood this in the Srilankan context, including the highly regarded the late J N Dixit.
November 2002 was historic in one sense. The LTTE Chief addressed a press conference - possibly in the jungles of Vavunia, with over 200 reporters from all over the world. He and his political idealogue, the late Anton Balasingham, stopped short of apologizing for Rajiv's assasination, when querried. But the realization came very, very late, to the point of no return. LTTE realized that without India's support there was no way they were going to achieve their ultimate objectives.
Prabhakaran could not achieve his goals in his lifetime, but his death has given the opportunity for India to involve itself meaningfuly in Srilanka. Given the geopolitical considerations, we may have to force the issue. Its a catch-22 for India. We have to leverage our trust and influence to bring about a political settlement in Srilanka - in any shape or form.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Ilaiyaraja's master pieces
Ilaiyaraja is a maestro. His USP is in blending Western, Carnatic and Tamil folk tunes. There are thousands of hit songs. I have listed just a few of them here:
Song:Thumbi Vaa; Movie: Olangal (1982); Language: Malayalam
Credit: d33pakmohan
Timeless
Background/title score; Movie: Anjali; Language: Telugu
Credit: panchamam
Touching
Album: How to name it (1988)
Song: How to name it
Credit: m8u8s8i8c
Classical
Album: How to name it (1988)
Song: Study for Violin
Credit: whenall
Classical
Movie: Pithaamagan (2003); Song: Ilangaththu Veesudhe; Language: Tamil
Credit: vijayaguru
Song:Thumbi Vaa; Movie: Olangal (1982); Language: Malayalam
Credit: d33pakmohan
Timeless
Background/title score; Movie: Anjali; Language: Telugu
Credit: panchamam
Touching
Album: How to name it (1988)
Song: How to name it
Credit: m8u8s8i8c
Classical
Album: How to name it (1988)
Song: Study for Violin
Credit: whenall
Classical
Movie: Pithaamagan (2003); Song: Ilangaththu Veesudhe; Language: Tamil
Credit: vijayaguru
Soul stirring music videos from Hollywood movies
Movie: Black Hawk Down, Soundtrack: Gortoz A Ran
Credit: Yummy Productions, 'AfterMath4lyfe' on Youtube
Movie: Black Hawk Down, Soundtrack: Leave No man behind
Credit: avkhatri on Youtube
Movie: Last of the Mohicans - End Scene Soundtrack: Promentory
Credit: ozzyfest
A masterpiece
Credit: Yummy Productions, 'AfterMath4lyfe' on Youtube
Movie: Black Hawk Down, Soundtrack: Leave No man behind
Credit: avkhatri on Youtube
Movie: Last of the Mohicans - End Scene Soundtrack: Promentory
Credit: ozzyfest
A masterpiece
Friday, August 08, 2008
Amarnath land transfer dispute amplifies dichotomy
Our politicians belong to a special caste - they are criminals. They deserve the treatment, the Protagonist, actor Vikram metes out to villains in the movie Anniyan. Our Kashmiri parasites (the politicians, not the public) are slightly different lot - Garuda Puranam may sound communal, and hence may need to be treated in a secular manner.
From their actions and reactions, they have managed to amplify the dichotomy that prevails in the region. What baffles me the most is the absolute lack of contrition on the part of these self-styled figure heads of Kashmiri society.
A mere environmental issue has been given a communal touch, thus fomenting trouble in the name of Islam and communalism.
Amarnath Shrine Board was formed under the aegis of J&K assembly in 2000, to help support Amarnath Yatra. Keep in mind, Amarnath Yatra is successful all these years because of material and logistic support from the Kashmiri public.
Nobody is opposing these facilities or the pilgrims. That's a sad and hidden truth in this political fiasco.
The land transfer issue is about small piece of land that was acquired and transfered to the Amarnath Shrine Board to provide lavatory & other facilities for pilgrims. Many such facilities were inexistence atleast for 20-30 years...frequently upgraded, improved and increased to meet the growing needs of Yatris. Amarnath board has transfered several such portable toilets to the public in response to 2005 earthquake.
This is what Vijay K. Sazawal of Indo-American forum has to say in The Outlook, in response to communally sensitive articles appearing in a local Srinagar daily:
"Sadly, the daily would not tell its readers that the J&K government had after 1996 -- when 250 pilgrims died due to heavy snowfall during the yatra and before the passage of the SASB Act in the state assembly in 2000 -- built a number of permanent comfort facilities for pilgrims. In fact, the earliest such structures were built in 1980s. Also, the media conveniently ignored that the SASB had donated most of its tear-down comfort facility kits to the people of Tangdhar and Uri after the October 2005 earthquake and there was an urgent need to build replacement facilities along the yatra route."
Here are the dick-heads involved in communalizing this political saga:
Our politicians belong to a special caste - they are criminals. They deserve the treatment, the Protagonist, actor Vikram metes out to villains in the movie Anniyan. Our Kashmiri parasites (the politicians, not the public) are slightly different lot - Garuda Puranam may sound communal, and hence may need to be treated in a secular manner.
From their actions and reactions, they have managed to amplify the dichotomy that prevails in the region. What baffles me the most is the absolute lack of contrition on the part of these self-styled figure heads of Kashmiri society.
A mere environmental issue has been given a communal touch, thus fomenting trouble in the name of Islam and communalism.
Amarnath Shrine Board was formed under the aegis of J&K assembly in 2000, to help support Amarnath Yatra. Keep in mind, Amarnath Yatra is successful all these years because of material and logistic support from the Kashmiri public.
Nobody is opposing these facilities or the pilgrims. That's a sad and hidden truth in this political fiasco.
The land transfer issue is about small piece of land that was acquired and transfered to the Amarnath Shrine Board to provide lavatory & other facilities for pilgrims. Many such facilities were inexistence atleast for 20-30 years...frequently upgraded, improved and increased to meet the growing needs of Yatris. Amarnath board has transfered several such portable toilets to the public in response to 2005 earthquake.
This is what Vijay K. Sazawal of Indo-American forum has to say in The Outlook, in response to communally sensitive articles appearing in a local Srinagar daily:
"Sadly, the daily would not tell its readers that the J&K government had after 1996 -- when 250 pilgrims died due to heavy snowfall during the yatra and before the passage of the SASB Act in the state assembly in 2000 -- built a number of permanent comfort facilities for pilgrims. In fact, the earliest such structures were built in 1980s. Also, the media conveniently ignored that the SASB had donated most of its tear-down comfort facility kits to the people of Tangdhar and Uri after the October 2005 earthquake and there was an urgent need to build replacement facilities along the yatra route."
Here are the dick-heads involved in communalizing this political saga:
- Hurriyat Conference - Umbrella organization of Kashmiri separatist parties based in Srinagar, a miscellaneous group of people who will travel to "New Delhi, India" for their medical treatments, expenses either underwritten by the Indian government or by some unknown entity across the border. Very happy to stoke the fire, just before their trip to Pakistan (on an Indian passport, I guess) for "talks".
- Mufti Mohammed Syed - Remember Rubaiya Syed incident under the august Prime Ministership of VP Singh in 1989? Response to the kidnapping is the basis of viewing the Indian state as weak. This guy, I read somewhere, apparently has a Masters degree in harmonizing communal tensions. His party withdrew support over land transfer issue.
- Omar Abdullah - His marked deviation from the script while speaking on the vote of confidence in Loksabha recently was unnecessary. He should have stuck to the topic of the debate, the Indo-US nuclear deal, and not speak about Amarnath Yatra issue. You cannot allowed to be provoked, if you are budding and promising talent.
Check the speech out yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mr2Fjw5A0AOmar Abdullah, in my opinion, was a fantastic Minister of State of External Affairs in the erstwhile NDA regime. He is well respected in the political circles as a budding young talent and thus eagerly listened to by the public. His vote of confidence speech was blighted by references to Amarnath issue, no doubt about it. His speech contributed to aggravated passions in the Jammu region.
- Media: Our English media is largely influenced by writers from JNU school of pseudo-secularism in New Delhi. They have "tailor-made" jobs available in leftist oriented Education ministry, ASI, Politburo of certain parties and in several newspapers/magazines.
Omar Abdullah's speech, according to some in the media, has elevated him to the national scene. What rubbish are they delivering to us?
1. Listen to this "Walk the talk" by Shekhar Gupta which I had the benefit of watching it live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNXRsjY9Lhk
2. This link has some information, that was completely ignored by our mainstream, English media.
http://www.anindianmuslim.com/2008/07/muslims-favouring-hindu-stand-on.html
Narendra Modi may be right in saying, this issue could be India's Shah Bano II. Knowing what happened after Shah Bano I, do we want a Shah Bano II?
My political preferences and compulsions apart, I am quiet skeptical of Narendra Modi as India's next Home Minister.
How does the current government feel?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Sonia's Decision
Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday May 18th 2004, decisively declined to be the Prime Minister of India.
At hindsight, what a decision this was? Rahul said it right. Who else would decline the PM's post?
Sonia's stature in India has improved and with the exception of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she dwarfed every other politician worth his/her salt in India. For now, atleast.
Infact, NDA was taken by surprise. By one stroke, Sonia has taken away the shine off the NDA's new ball.
I would like to convey my thanks to Sonia Gandhi for the decision.
In this article, I would like to point out two factors that led to her withdrawal. Also, for those who felt betrayed by her refusal, I have penned some reasons for digestion.
Withdrawal
There are two major reasons, in order of importance, which has contributed to her decision.
First and the foremost issue, is the future of her son and daughter.
Sonia is only 57, which is like adolescence in Indian political landscape. She does not want to spoil the "bright" future prospects of her two children.
Sonia's interest in the Congress party is directly related to future prospects of her children, despite her public posture. This was not the case in 1991 - immediately after Rajiv’s assassination, because her children were too young to hold positions of power -
either in the party or in the government.
In 1998, when she thought that Congress was going to the dogs, she stepped in at the right time just to feel welcomed.
Second issue is her knowledge of Bofors kickbacks.
The issue is certainly not over. I am sure she continues to hear this from her inner-voice constantly.
In this regard, it may be worthwhile to recall that, Martin Ordbo, the man who knows all,
said that the truth would go to the grave along with him.
Additionally, Sonia Gandhi's refusal to answer questions pertaining to the issue is an indicator of guilt.
If her conscience is clear, why then refuse?
Bangaru Laxman, former BJP president appeared on Karan Thapar's program in BBC (sometime in 2001) to answer Tehelka related questions - unscripted. Sonia knows very well, she is not used to giving interviews without preparations and pre-conditions. Ask Vir Sanghvi, the present editor of the Hindustan Times.
Betrayal of the mandate
Upon her decision, there have been cries from Congress cronies about her betrayal of the mandate.
Did Sonia betray the mandate? A firm NO.
Why?
The verdict was clear. Good-bye NDA, for its development and good governance plank.
Sonia knows the meaning of the word "mandate" (having gone to study English in England) and certainly realized the fractured verdict. It is not a verdict for her, but against NDA. Why then would vote percentage of Congress and BJP reduce?
Contrary to the popular opinion, Sonia cares less about her foreign origin issue and public sentiments over it. Certainly not in 1999. Why then now?
Sonia, personally, was unfazed by the threat of uprising by the NDA, led by BJP on the issue of her foreign origin. This is not true of her allies though.
Had Sonia accepted the post, foreign origin and Bofors would have taken the spotlight and put her children, Congress, Left and other allies on the back foot.
More than anything else, she did not want to jeopardize (true to her Indian ethos as claimed by her cohorts) the future of her children in Indian politics.
As a Prime Minister, she would be compelled to answer Bofors related questions in Parliament. She did not want to risk the future of her children by exposing herself.
I truly believe the above are the only two reasons why she declined the post.
At hindsight, what a decision this was? Rahul said it right. Who else would decline the PM's post?
Sonia's stature in India has improved and with the exception of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she dwarfed every other politician worth his/her salt in India. For now, atleast.
Infact, NDA was taken by surprise. By one stroke, Sonia has taken away the shine off the NDA's new ball.
I would like to convey my thanks to Sonia Gandhi for the decision.
In this article, I would like to point out two factors that led to her withdrawal. Also, for those who felt betrayed by her refusal, I have penned some reasons for digestion.
Withdrawal
There are two major reasons, in order of importance, which has contributed to her decision.
First and the foremost issue, is the future of her son and daughter.
Sonia is only 57, which is like adolescence in Indian political landscape. She does not want to spoil the "bright" future prospects of her two children.
Sonia's interest in the Congress party is directly related to future prospects of her children, despite her public posture. This was not the case in 1991 - immediately after Rajiv’s assassination, because her children were too young to hold positions of power -
either in the party or in the government.
In 1998, when she thought that Congress was going to the dogs, she stepped in at the right time just to feel welcomed.
Second issue is her knowledge of Bofors kickbacks.
The issue is certainly not over. I am sure she continues to hear this from her inner-voice constantly.
In this regard, it may be worthwhile to recall that, Martin Ordbo, the man who knows all,
said that the truth would go to the grave along with him.
Additionally, Sonia Gandhi's refusal to answer questions pertaining to the issue is an indicator of guilt.
If her conscience is clear, why then refuse?
Bangaru Laxman, former BJP president appeared on Karan Thapar's program in BBC (sometime in 2001) to answer Tehelka related questions - unscripted. Sonia knows very well, she is not used to giving interviews without preparations and pre-conditions. Ask Vir Sanghvi, the present editor of the Hindustan Times.
Betrayal of the mandate
Upon her decision, there have been cries from Congress cronies about her betrayal of the mandate.
Did Sonia betray the mandate? A firm NO.
Why?
The verdict was clear. Good-bye NDA, for its development and good governance plank.
Sonia knows the meaning of the word "mandate" (having gone to study English in England) and certainly realized the fractured verdict. It is not a verdict for her, but against NDA. Why then would vote percentage of Congress and BJP reduce?
Contrary to the popular opinion, Sonia cares less about her foreign origin issue and public sentiments over it. Certainly not in 1999. Why then now?
Sonia, personally, was unfazed by the threat of uprising by the NDA, led by BJP on the issue of her foreign origin. This is not true of her allies though.
Had Sonia accepted the post, foreign origin and Bofors would have taken the spotlight and put her children, Congress, Left and other allies on the back foot.
More than anything else, she did not want to jeopardize (true to her Indian ethos as claimed by her cohorts) the future of her children in Indian politics.
As a Prime Minister, she would be compelled to answer Bofors related questions in Parliament. She did not want to risk the future of her children by exposing herself.
I truly believe the above are the only two reasons why she declined the post.
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